A WWII without Operation Barbarossa

What course would the Second World War have taken had Germany not committed approximately 3.8 million men, 3,350 tanks and 2,770 aircraft to the invasion of the Soviet Union? Would we see a longer campaign in North Africa and/or the war being extended past 1945?
 
A completely undamaged and fully prepared Soviet Union invades German-occupied Poland in late 1943 or in 1944. Soon afterward, the Soviet flag is planted at the Rhine.

Pretty much: Stalin was just as much of an expansionist, authoritarian bully at the time as Hitler was. Granted, if the Nazi's are conducting a defensive war they can probably hold out for a time, but the weight of Soviet numbers (now properly organized and equip, unlike Barbarossa IOTL) will sweep them aside.
 
The first consequence, obviously, is that this frees up the troops needed to carry out Operation Sea Lion.

* ducks *

Realistically, it's hard to see how this happens. Eastern living space is core to Nazi ideology, and in their minds, invading the Soviet Union isn't an insane risk. From their perspective, they'd already successfully invaded Russia once, and the Jewish-Bolshevists were -- again in their minds -- if anything even weaker than the Tsar's empire had been.
 
I can see a scenario in the case where Germany does better in 1940 due to a combination of one of more of:

a) a General Wever lives scenario where the Luftwaffe is better off (a better JU88 etc..)
b) OTL German torpedo problems are fixed earlier
c) Magnetic mine deployment delayed until mass use is possible.
d) Serious effort made to bomb Liverpool and such places to assist submarine war.
e) Some sort of competent Italian effort directed at someplace
f) BEF doesn't get evacuated from France.
g) More Spanish cooperation at getting at Gibraltar.

So in this TL Hitler believes he can bring the British to the peace table in 1941 so delays invasion of Soviet Union until 1942. (However, while thinking about it, British don't actually make peace in 1941 in this TL)

However Japanese and USA enter as in OTL.

Not wanting to face all of Britain/USA/USSR Hitler delays attack on Soviet Union eventually.

I really wonder if the USSR attacks until there is a large Allied force in France (i.e. like OTL 1944 August). To attack a competent and war like country like Germany would seem very risky until then. Stalin wouldn't take big risks. Even if Germany was pressed in the west and the Allies took Paris back, I could see a renegotiate to the 1914 German boundary where the Soviets pick up Warsaw and Krakow peacefully.
Maybe the Soviets attack the Japanese first in this case, without fear the Germans could retaliate.
 

Deleted member 1487

What course would the Second World War have taken had Germany not committed approximately 3.8 million men, 3,350 tanks and 2,770 aircraft to the invasion of the Soviet Union? Would we see a longer campaign in North Africa and/or the war being extended past 1945?
Why is it not happening? That is pretty important to knowing what could happen next.
 
Top